He takes the reins of a council crying out for leadership and direction after a tumultuous period that has seen the resignation of former mayor John Burt and the acceptance seemingly of a state upper house seat by the incumbent Josh Morris.

It’s not just a change of personnel that has destabilised the council, it’s been the suggestion that politics has been more important than policy or plans.

The message to councillors in the past month has been that it needs to refocus on what is most important.

To do that, it needed a leader fully committed to the job and one who is at least seen as willing to put local needs ahead of ambition.

While the council could only appoint Cr Philips to the mayoralty through to the end of November, it should support him in the position through 2015 as well.

Why? 

Because as much as Ballarat needs innovative and bold leadership, the council’s most significant current need is stability and independence.

As the council has discovered, it is difficult to sell the story of its successes if controversy lurks around the corner. The fact that it hasn’t been allowed to tell its positive story is an indictment on its own approach and focus. Its attempts to blame others is a further sign that it revels only in reactivity.

This aside, Cr Philips has a significant task ahead of him beyond the obvious immediate need to strengthen relationships among his fellow elected councillors. 

The establishment of a new saleyards, an issue close to his heart; the ongoing debate regarding the future of the Civic Hall site; the need to get the Ballarat West Growth Zone project off the plan and into work; the need to persuade government to invest in much-needed infrastructure projects; and reconfirmation of the council’s role in delivering basic community services and facilities all require immediate attention.

If his early comments are an indication of a focus more closely on constituent feelings, Cr Philips put it clearly earlier this week: “I’d like to increase communication and consultation with the community and action groups around what’s happening to keep them involved in the process of making decisions for Ballarat”.

If history is to provide a gauge, there will be plenty of residents happy to offer advice.

CHFL grand final is a celebration of community

EXPECT community footy at its finest when Bungaree and Springbank go head to head in the Central Highlands Football League senior grand final at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.

It’s not necessarily the action on the footy field or the netball courts that is most important, however.

It’s that communities come together with a common goal to share the ups and downs and support each other. It’s something to behold at a time when everything once positive about living in small rural and regional communities is being challenged so directly by changes in society.

May our communities rejoice  – and the best team win.

andrew.eales@fairfaxmedia.com.au